20 Lessons to Learn before you turn 20

A friend of mine will turn 19 soon, and I myself will turn 20, so we had a little chat about how important that birthday will be. It is, truly, a turning point. By that point, some of us will have thought about their dreams and aspirations, their hopes and their lives and they will have sorted out what you have learned. Some others will just be going with the flow, not having reflected upon their future goals. In both cases, the only way to set your goals, achieve them and be part of the ongoing proccess of development is to think about what you've already learned and make that part of your life.

So, here I present 20 things I've learned so far. I pass this list on to you with the simple hope that it makes you think. 

1. Bad things do happen to good people.
2. Every decision is a choice between love and fear.
3. People will find a way to judge you harshly, no matter what you do. 
4. If you never act, you will never know for sure.
5. Everyone has a deep inner desire for happiness.
6. Making mistakes is part of the proccess.
7. Taking ownership of failure builds the foundation for success.
8. Blaming yourself for your past deeds is acceptable only up to the point that it helps you maintain balance.
9. Forgiving yourself is the next step.
10. There is no such thing as failure. If you trust life you'll appreciate all ups and downs.
11. Maintaining unhealthy relationships may be extremely dangerous.
12. Your space is important. Live in a place you like, make it as beautiful as possible.
13. The simple things in life are... pretty awesome.
14. First impressions are completely worthless 50% of the time.
15. Old friends are amazing. It is so easier to act silly around them. And so much fun!
16. Stepping outside of your comfort zone will put things into perspective from an angle you can’t grasp now.
17. When you make a choice, you compromise with only the best available (and visible) option.
18. Thinking out of the box is vital on the road to success.
19. Encouraging those around you can be very fulfilling. Cherish those moments.
20. The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return.          
    
    
    The funny thing is that, by finishing this list, I realised how incomplete it is. I've learned so many more things through the course of the years, and I am not even 20 years old! Learning is a proccess which can happen anywhere, anytime, anyhow, if you are willing to let things in. Childhood will never completely end, if you do not allow it. But growing is part of life, and every age has its value. ''Every child is an artist. The problem is to remain an artist when you grow up'', Picasso once said. Never forget that inner artist.